¡/[[(M &003
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No. 202
Salem, Oregon
Address service requested
In this Issue...
Working to protect public services in Oregon
Scholarship Winners....................... 2
AFL/CIO Convention....................... 3
Year in Review............................ 2/3
Notice of Elections......... outside flap
PERS Counseling ............ inside flap
Crossword Puzzle............. inside flap
General Council ......... outside flap/4
Our chance to get involved
in the 2004 campaign
66 Anytime anybody asks you to write or call your congressmen,
do it! I've done it before, but after I met with our representatives
and read the newspapers the next day, I saw it really does
make a difference.
Lonny Morgan
4 Reasons to Get Involved
Building Maintenance, Jackson County
by Rachel Chartier and Lonny Morgan, Jackson County members
This was the first time either of
us attended the Member Political Action
Conference in Washington, DC. There were
about twenty Local 503 members at the
conference. We felt honored to be involved.
1,600 SEIU members from around the country
stormed the Capitol as we lobbied for
protections for overtime pay, affordable
prescription drug coverage, and access to .
college for U.S.-raised children of immigrants.
We met with our state's members of Congress
and the next day Congress voted to protect
overtime pay. (But President Bush has
pledged to veto the bill so 8 rrfitfion workers
could lose paid overtime.)
When we were waiting to talk to Senator
Wyden, he came down the hall towards us.
Recogn¡zing bur purpIFslTnrts, Ke ex^
"The purple people! I always love seeing all
the purple people.",
Presidential Candidates Interviewed
Some of us were able to talk directly to
presidential candidates - eight of the nine
were at the conference! My group met with
Howard Dean and11 asked about his support
for Healthy Start. He said that he started an
early intervehtion program in Vermont and
as a doctor he believes ip Healthy Start.
The Heroes Program
SEIU President Andy Stern introduced
Heroes Program - a way for 2,004 members
to take paid time off work to educate voters
about what's at stake in the 2004 election.
Federal action affects funding for public
services (including wages and benefits), ;
overtime pay, health care, education, worker
safety, privatization, and the right of workers
to form a unibn. The Heroes Program wil&
provide training and payment for Local 503
members who come off thbjob to work on
educating people about political issues.
If you're interested in taking a paid leave
to do political work, contact your organizer.
O
Schools in Oregon are underfunded
by more than $338 million. Our
children are paying the price in
shortened school years and class
sizes in excess of 50 students.
0
8 million workers - in every sector
- could lose paid overtime if the
President vetoes pending
legislation.
At a time of record unemployment,
spending on training and employ
ment programs has dropped from
$300 to $160 for each unemployed
worker.
O
SEIU 503 members met Senator Wyden when they
lobbied in Washington, DC. L - R: Mary Miles-
Breedlove, Lonny Morgan, Senator Wyden, Steve
Barrett, Rachel Chartier, and Mark Gronso.
.EADERSHlP
^ pemy
O
40,000 working poor have been
kicked off the Oregon Health Plan
and 85,000 more are in jeopardy
of losing their coverage.
. .
Training to help new leaders
build strength in the workplace
66 / think this is a
great idea because
the more leaders
we have, the
stronger we'll be.^
Mary Springer
We all know we need tb have more power and more leaders
in the workplace. Our union has terrific rank and file leaders
throughout the state who have provided strong leadership for
SEIU for many years. They always tell us that more leaders are
needed to,share the rewarding and often difficult task o| j
building the union - and making us stronger on the job.
With many of our leaders nearing retirement, the need to
replenish our ranks is even greater.
Information Specialist, DMV
- . headquarters, Salem
The Leadership Academy will focus on helping new leaders
build skills that are essential for a strong and powerful union.
The program combines classroom training with direct follow-up mentoring and
training in the field. This year-long program is scheduled in blocks of three months
of one-to-one mentoring interspersed with training sessions and conferences. Each
staff organizer will work with three new member leaders. In consultation with their
staff organizer, each member leader will design their program to match their needs.
By focusing on field work, new member leaders will be able to practice and see
results of new skills as they learn them. Contact your organizer for more information.
SEIU Local 503, OPEU - STRONGER TOGETHER
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